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Yukoner takes gold in his first squash tourney

Logan Harris, 10, has only been playing squash for a year-and-a-half, and he already has a gold medal to show for it. Competing at the Pacific Northwest Juniors Tournament in Victoria, BC - his first tournament outside...

Logan Harris, 10, has only been playing squash for a year-and-a-half, and he already has a gold medal to show for it

Competing at the Pacific Northwest Juniors Tournament in Victoria, BC - his first tournament outside of Whitehorse - Harris won all four of his matches to take gold in the boys’ U-11 novice division.

“He started taking lessons maybe a year-and-a-half ago and he’s really talented,” said Squash Yukon and Better Bodies coach Marie Desmarais. “He was returning serves off the wall and that’s really hard to do.”

Harris’ toughest challenge came in his first match; he won it in five sets.

“He was really well matched in that game and he had to play well - and he did!” said Desmarais. “It was really exciting.”

After dropping a set in his second match en route to a win, he took his final two matches in straight-sets.

Also competing in their first out-of-town tournament were Graydon McDonnell, Anna-Lee Jacobsen and Will Parker.

McDonnell, playing in the same division as Harris, finished third.

“I have four groups of boys that are under 11 and they’re all good little athletes and they push each other,” said Desmarais. “They’re coming along really well.”

Another top finisher from Whitehorse was Kia Knorr, who finished second in the U-15 B division after losing a straight-setter in the finals.

“He was a little disappointed about his final game because he didn’t play as well as he’s capable of playing,” said Desmarais. “Kia works hard on the court - but you can’t play well all the time.”

Yukoner Sophia Flather also came home with a medal, going 3-1 and taking third in the girls’ U-19/17 novice division, one spot ahead of teammate Zoe Walker. In the girls’ U-15 novice consolation round, Alexis Hougen won her final three matches to claim the title.

This weekend Better Bodies is hosting the Yukon Open, which will showcase talent from throughout the territory and may include visiting players from BC and NWT.

Contact Tom Patrick at

tomp@yukon-news.com